Ditch



Nov. 10, 1931. F. J. MILES 1,830,848

DITCH Filed Aug. 27. 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet l IN VEN TOR. FRED \AM/Lf' F.J. MILES Nov. 10, 1931.

DITGH Filed Aug. 7. 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

FEED d/W/L 55 TORNEYS.

Patented Nov. 10, 1931 PATENT, oFFicE FRED J. MILE-s, or nsiznnsrrnnn,cnnrronum DITCH Application filed August 27, 1929. Serial No. 388,794.

This invention appertains to well drilling apparatus and moreparticularly to ditches or chutes used to convey circulating mud fromthe well hole to the tank where it is to be stored until used overagain.

lVith ditches that are now in use it is necessary to bolt the varioussections thereof together and as these ditches are moved from rig to rigas the wells are completed, consld- 1 erable time is used in theassembling and the taking apart of the ditches.

Further, in the ditches commonly used,

difiiculty is experienced in the removing of the sand and heavy mud fromthe bottom thereof and as one of the primary purposes of the ditches isto permit the settling of the sand and heavy mud therein, the usethereof has not been eflicient. g

It is therefore one of the primaryobjects of my invention to provide anovel mud ditch for well rigs including a plurality of novel sectionswith novel means for connecting the sections together without the use ofbolts, the

said means giving a water-tight joint but which will still permit thequick and efiicient assembling and taking apart of the sections.

A further object of my invention is the proa vision of novel settlingbasins or the like in the bottom wallsof the ditches, which form meansfor catching the sand and heavy mud,

with trap doors arranged in the bottom of the basin portion forpermitting the quick remoral of the sand and mud therefrom.

A still further object of my invention is to provide an improved ditchofthe above character, which will be durable and efiicientlin claimed,and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which drawings:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of my improved ditch showing the sameconnected with the well and with the storage tank;

Figure 2 is a detail vertical section taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1looking illhe direction of the arrows and showing the main longitudinalportion of the ditch in side elevation;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary horizontal section through the ditch taken onthe line 33 of Figure 2 looking in the direction of the arrows; v

Figure 4: is a vertical longitudinal section through the ditch taken onthe line l-4 of Figure 3 looking in the direction of the arrows; a

Figure 5 is a detail fragmentary perspective view looking from the maleend of one of the ditch sections; v

Figure 6 is a similar view looking from the female end of one of theditch section-s;

' Figure 7 is an enlarged detail sectional view showing a pair of thesections connected together and illustrating the novel jointtherebetween, and

Figure 8 is an enlarged fragmentary detail perspective view illustratingthe novel joint employed for connecting one of the'lateral transversesections of the ditch to one of the longitudinal sections of the ditch.i i

Referring to the drawings in detail, whereill similar referencecharacters designate corresponding parts throughout .the' several views,the letter A generally indicates the diagrammatic showing of an oil orsimilar a well drillmg apparatus and B a storage tank for thecirculating mud used in connection ther with, the well hole and the tankbeing connected together by my novel ditch C,

which will now be described. A

My improved ditch 0 comprises amain longitudinal portion 10, a laterallyextending portion 11 leading to the well and a laterally extending endportion 12 leadingto the tank B.

The main, longitudinal portion 10 comprises a plurality of intermediatesections 13 and end sections 14 and 15, to which are connectedrespectively the laterally extending portions 11 and 12. I Each of theintermediate sections 13 includes a bottom wall 16, and upstanding sidewalls 17. These walls may be'bolted or riveted as at 18 tolongitudinally extending corner angle irons 19, The walls 16 and 17 canbe constructed from metal plate of the desired gage. These sections canbe provided with cover plates 20, if preferred, and the cover plates arelikewise bolted to the angle irons 19.

The end sections 14: and 15 are similarly formed and each includesbottom walls 21, upstanding side walls 22 and an outer end wall 23. Allof these walls are bolted or riveted to the corner angle irons 24. Theend sections can likewise be provided with cover plates 25, ifpreferred.

The bottom walls of all of the sections have preferably formed thereindepending or concave depressed portions forming basins 26, in which thesand and heavy mud is adapted to collect and each of the basins 26 isprovided with a removable gate 27 whereby the collected sand and heavymud can be removed.

In accordance with my invention, the various sections are connectedtogether by a novel joint 28, which forms an important part of myinvention. To provide the novel coupling 28, the end of one section isprovided with a substantially U-shaped guide member 29 in cross section,which is provided with a rearwardly extending attaching flange 30 whichis riveted or otherwise secured to said section. The guide member 29being U shaped in cross section provides a trough or seat for the guideor seating flange 31 which extends outwardly at right angles to theadjacent end of the next adjacent section. This outwardly extendingguide flange 31 is provided with a right angularly disposed attachingflange 32 which is riveted or otherwise secured in place. It can be seenthat the guide flange 31 and the attaching flange 32 can be constructedtogether and out of suitable angle iron.

By this arrangement of parts the guide flange 31 can be slid into theguide track or trough 29 and in order to provide a snug water-proofjoint, a substantially U-shaped gasket is placed within the guidetrough, as indicated by the reference character 33. Thus a liquid-proofjoint is provided, but one in which the sections can be readilyseparated when desired.

In order to aid in efficiently supporting the longitudinal portion 10,suitable supporting blocks 35 are placed under the sections, preferablynear the joints thereof. As shown in the drawings, the block is placednear the joint and under the section which carries the U-shaped guidetrough 29, whereby the adjacent section will rest on or in the trough.

Then it is desired to take the sections apart, it is merely necessary topull up on the section carrying the guide flange 31.

In order to permit the expeditious connecting of the lateral chuteportions 11 and the same is not deemed necessary.

It is to be seen, however, that as the circulating'mud passes from thewell into the lateral trough l1, and thence into the longitudinal mainportion, and thence into the tank B through the lateral portion of thechute or ditch 12, the mud or sand or heavy particles will be depositedin the basins 26, where the same can be conveniently removed by takingout the gates 27 From the foregoing description it can be seen that Ihave provided an efficient and durable ditch for well drillingappliances which can be readily taken apart and set up again in aminimum amount of time and with the expenditure of a minimum amount ofenergy.

Changes in details may be made without departing from the spirit 01' thescope of this invention, but

WVhat I claim as new is:

A flume joint for connecting two sections of a chute together comprisinga guide track substantially U-shaped in cross section having its upperend open and riveted to one end of one section, and a right angularlyextending guide flange substantially U-shaped in elevation carried bythe other section and slidably received within the guide track, a gasketsubstantially U-shaped in side elevation received in the guide track andinterposed between the flange and one wall of the guide track, the endsections of the longitudinal portion being provided with openings, guidetracks extending about said openings and having their upper ends open,and a right angularly extending guide flange carried by the outer endsof the lateral portions slidably received within said last mentionedguide tracks, and gaskets interposed between the flanges and the flangesof the last mentioned guide tracks.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

FRED J. MILES.

12 with the end sections 14 and 15, the end sections have bolted totheir side faces,

